Water Quality Management Plan

Water Quality Management Plans (WQMPs) are required by all developments that are defined as a Priority Development Project (PDP) per the WQMP Guidance Document for Riverside County, which is based upon the requirements of the current National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permit requirements.

WQMP requirements are separate from those required during construction as part of the General Construction Permit (GCP) through the state. While requirements as part of the GCP are temporary during construction, the requirements of the WQMP are permanent Best Management Practices (BMPs) that are permanent treatment and source control measures to reduce pollution discharging into downstream receiving waters.

What is a WQMP?

A WQMP is a plan that documents the post-construction BMPs that will be utilized on a project site to comply with the NPDES permit. The WQMP will identify the site design, source control, and treatment control BMPs that will be implemented onsite to reduce pollution in runoff from the project site. For projects requiring planning entitlements, a preliminary WQMP must be prepared and approved prior to approval of the planning case entitlements. All projects then require a final WQMP to be submitted with the engineering permits and must be approved prior to issuance of a grading or construction permit. The WQMP must be prepared by a licensed Civil Engineer in the state of California. A BMP Maintenance Agreement (template located HERE) must be signed and notarized for recordation by the City prior to issuance of the engineering permit. After construction and prior issuance of any certificates of occupancy, a BMP Certification must be completed by the Civil Engineer.

Does my project require a WQMP?

Per the NPDES permit, you project is considered a Priority Development Project (PDP) and will require a WQMP if it falls into any of the categories below. For the definition of “project” per the WQMP Guidance Document, it is the whole of an action which has the potential for adding or replacing or resulting in the addition or replacement of roofs, pavement, or other impervious surfaces. This includes any offsite street improvements that are required as part of the project. Projects may not be piecemealed into smaller parts if the effect is to reduce the quantity of impervious area to below any of the category thresholds.